Improvement in hydrants



Patented Nov. 3, 1874.

zen/ir.'-

G. H. BAILEY.

Hydrants.

GEORGE H. BAILEY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HVDRANTS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 1156,527, dated November 3, 1874; application filed May l, 1874. v

- To all whom it may concern:

-Inost liable to accident and derangement without removing the body of the hydrant, and, also, to allow such repairs to be made without shutting off the water at the main to which it is attached.

I am aware that hydrants have been constructed in which one or the other of these objects has been accomplished; but never, so far as I am informed, have both of these objects been accomplished in the same hydrant in a manner to be of any practical use.

Hydrants have been constructed surrounded with an exterior case, so that the body of the hydrant may be detached and removed, leaving the case standing, thus obviating the necessity of digging up the ground. Others have been made with an auxiliary valve, operated mechanically whenever it is desired to repair the main valve, the auxiliary valve serving to shut ofi' the water at the base of the hydrant without shutting oft" the main to which it is attached. This last arrangement is complicated and expensive, and has no advantage over an ordinary hydrant with an independent gate or valve attached. Others have been made with a main valve, which may be removed, and an auxiliary valve closed by the pressure of the water; but, in such cases, the removal of the upper valve allows the escape of a good deal of water before the lower valve closes, and is troublesome and well-nigh impracticable.

I will proceed to describe my improvements, having reference to the drawing, which represents ay vertical section of a hydrant.

A is the base of the hydrant, having a feednozzle cast upon or secured to one side thereof, by which connection is made with the pipe leading from the main. B is the stock or stand pipe, secured to the base A by a iiange or other suitable connection. C is the main valve, operated by the rod D, passing upward in 'the center of the stand-pipe, and

through the cap E, and worked by a nut and screw or other suitable device. The valve O works in the cylindrical chamber F, attached to the upper side of the base. This chamber may be in one piece, as shown in the drawing, or it may be in two parts, the upper being attached to the stand-pipe, and the lower to the base A. The valve G is formed of a leather or otherelastic packing, H, placed between the washers I and K, where it is secured by means of the nuts and screw-thread on the lower end of the valve-rod. The packing H is formed to iit snugly in the chamber F, and its lower edge projects below the lower edge of the washer I, offering an elastic and yielding surface, against which the pressure of the water acts, settiu g it out against the inside cf the chamber. This valve is thus packed by the pressure'of the water. It is opened by depressing into the base, and closed by drawing upward into the chamber F. The washer I is made cone-shape, so as to admit the water gradually through the hydrant, the full opening being obtained when the upper end of the cone has passed the lower edge of the chamber F. The bore of the stand-pipe is made slightly larger than the interior diameter of the chamber F, to allow of the valve C being readily drawn out at the top of the hydrant. L is an auxiliary valve, placed in the base of the hydrant, and guided and kept in position by the internal barrel M, or by guides cast on the inside of the base. If the barreljis used, it is perforated with a sufficient number of holes to allow the passage of the water. The auxiliary valve rests, when the hydrant is fully open, on the bottom of the base A, and, when closed,- is in contact, or nearly in contact, with the bottom of the chamber F. This valve may have a iiat surface closing on the under side of the chamber F, or its upper edge may be beveled or tapered, and, when closed, entering the chamber F.

The main and auxiliary valves are connected together in such a manner that at any time the main valve may be withdrawn, and the lower or auxiliary valve left to shut off the water. This is effected by attaching to the lower end of the valve-rod a spring-catch, O, of any convenient shape. A recess, P, is formed in the top of the auxiliary valve. This recess is made wider at bottom than at top, and receives the spring-catch O. The catch may have any required degree of tension, and, as it fills, on entering, the enlarged part of the recess P serves to connect the two valves, so that the two move together.

The operation of the hydrant may now be explained. The main valve is depressed in opening, and theV motion vis arrested by the auxiliary valve striking the bottom of the base. The force exerted crowds the valve-rod with its spring-catch O into the recess P, and, on closing the hydrant, the two valves move together until the main valve is fully closed.l

If,.now, it is desired to remove the main valve for repairs, the cap E is removed, the main valve is drawn up, the auxiliary valve following until it reaches the bottom of the chamber F, when, by the exertion of sufficient force on the valve-rod, the spring-catch yields, and the two valves separate, leaving the lower or auxiliary valve closing the passage for the water, and held up by the pressure of water on its under side. It is held in this position until the main valve is passed down through the stand-pipe and into the chamber F. The first opening of the hydrant crowds the two valves together, and they so remain until the operation of removing the valve or stand-pipe needs to be repeated.

The valve-rod, entering the recess in the top of the auxiliary valve, serves as the means of guiding and keeping the main valve in a central position.

It is not necessary, for the successful working of the hydrant, that the two valves should be connected, although I have described that arrangement, and prefer it.

It will be observed that, even if the standpipe requires to be removed, on account of being broken, as sometimes happens, it is not necessary to shut off the water at the main, for, the auxiliary valve being in the base, it

Will, in every case, shut off the water at a point below where there is the possibility of accident.

By this invention I secure a hydrant that is simple in construction, easily repaired, and. what is greatly desired in water-works, one that is repaired without shutting off the water at the main, all of which is accomplished.

C and lower valve L, of the spring-catch 0 and recess P, so that the two valves may be readily separated, the lower valve opening and closing automatically precisely as the upper valve is opened and closed.

GEO. H. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

FREDK. K. DAY, Trios. S. CRANE. 

